Headlight-operating device.



J. KAUMAN. HEADLIGHT OPERATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17, 1908.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

g Jai/Ima UNITED srarns factuur clarion.

JOHN KAUFMAN, OF HAZLETON, PENNSYLVANIA.

I-IEADLIGHT-OPERATING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN KAUFMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hazleton, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Headlight-Operating Device, of which the following is a specification.

sleeve or bearing with the head light bracket in such manner that as the car moves around a curve the head light will be thrown in the direction of the movement.

The invention further consists in certain novel arrangement of details, and combinations` of parts hereinafter fully described,

illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and; Figure 1 is a side elevation of the front of the car equipped with this invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, the full line showing the posi- .tion on a straight track and the dotted line the position of the parts when the car is moving around a curve. Fig. 3 is a top plan view, the full and dotted lines representing the full and dotted position of the parts as in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical, longitudinal section showing the ball bearings.

The numeral 10 indicates the front of a car whereon is mounted a bracket 11 having a sleeve or bearing 12 preferably formed integrally therewith and projecting horizontally from the bracket. This sleeve or bearing 12 has slot 13 in the .lower or under part thereof. Within the sleeve 12 is a shaft 14 having the outer end flattened as indicated at 15. Upon the flattened outer end of the shaft is carried a bracket 16, this bracket being provided with a segmental slot 17 to admit the flattened pivot end of the shaft.

In order to pivotally mount the head Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 17, 1908.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

Serial No. 444,040.

.light bracket 1 6 on the flattened end 15 there is provided a pivot pin 18 passing through the bracket and the end of the shaft. The lower part of the sleeve or bearing 12 is provided at the end with a segmental gear 19 and the head light bracket is provided with a similar segmental gear 20 meshing with the gear 19. At 21 is shown a head light which may be of any desired form or type and is secured tothe head light bracket in any manner deemed suitable for the type of head light used.

Rigidly attached to the shaft 14 and passing through the slot 13 is abar 22 at the lower end of which is a weight 23 for the purpose of maintaining the kbar in a vertical position without reference to the position of the car as it passes around a curve.

It is preferred that all of the parts be arranged with ball bearings such as are shown as at 24 in Fig. 4. Itis to be noted, however, that the type of ball bearings there shown is merely typical of such bearings and any other type that may be deemed advisable can be adopted. y y

ln the operation of the device, as long as the car is traveling on a straight track the parts will be held in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 in full lines. This is due to the fact that the weight 23 will hang vertically below the shaft 14 and thusprevent Y curves the outer rail is given what is known as super elevation. That is to say, the outer rail is elevated above the inner rail to a de- -gree corresponding with the curvature and speed of the cars. As the car passes around the curve to the right, the upper end of the bracket 11 will be swung to the right and assume the position shown in the dotted lines in. Figs. 2 and 3. The result of this is, weight 23 remaining constantly in a vertical line below the shaft 14 said shaft will be rotated in the direction of a hand of a clock looked at from the rear. This will of course rotate the head light bracket in the same way but since the bracket is geared by the gear 19 and 20 to the sleeve or bearing the bracket will not only be rotated in the same direction and maintain its perpendicular but will be thrown into the position indi cated by the dottedlinesin Figs. 2 and 3,

or in other words the beam of the head light will be thrown to the right thus illuminating the track in the direction of travel of the car.

It will of course be understood that the super elevation of the outer rail of the track, over which a car c-arrying the device embodying my invention is traveling, at curves, must be of such degree as to overcome any centrifugal force, caused by the train rounding the curve, which would tend to throw the weight and its supporting arm out ofl perpendicular position.

It is obvious that the same effect will take place when the car turns to the left. The gears and weights are intended to be so proportioned with reference vto the super elevation of the track on the various curves of the road that the beam of'light from the head light will be thrown a proportionate amount to the right or left as the case may be no matter what the degree of curvature of the track may be. There has thus been provided a very simple device having but the two moving parts, that is the shaft and the head li'ght bracket, which is eiiicifent in operation and 'of great utility.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and proportions of the `device to accommodate the various uses to which the saine may be put and it is not therefore desired to 'confine the invention to the exact form and shape herein shown and described, but it is wished to include all which can properly co'nie within the scope thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claim-ed as new, is

1. In a `device of the kind described, a

bearing bracket adapted to be attach-ed to av 2. In a device of the kind described, a

bearing bracket adapted tobe attached to a car, a horizontal bearing held on said bracket Provided with an arcuate slot in theV lower part thereof, shaft held iny said bearing, a weighted arml attached to said `shaftand passing through the slot, a headlight bracket pivoted to the outer end of said shaft, a segmental gear on the front lower end of said bearing, and a second segmental gear formed Aon the lower end of said head light bracket meshing with the first gear.

3. In a device of the kind described, a bearing bracket adapted to be attached to a car, a horizontal bearing held on said bracketprovided with an "arcuate slot in the lower part thereof, a shaft held in said bearings provided with a flattened `outer end, a counter weighted arm attached to said `shaft and passing through the slot, a head light bracket segmental in plan provided with an arcuate 'slot adapted to' receive the flattened end of the shaft, a pivot passing through the head light bracket and the shaft to rotatably attach the bracket to said shaft, 'and the gears connecting the head light bracket and the bearings.

4. In la device of the kind described, a bearing bracket vadapted to be 'attached to a c'ar, a horizontal bearing held lon said bracket provided with an arcuate slot in the 'lower part thereof, a shaft heldin said bearingprovided with a flattened outer end, a Weighted arm attachedtoy said shaft and passing through the slot in the bearing,l a head light bracket segmental in plan provided with an arcuat-esl'ot to receive the flattened end of the shaft, a pivot pin passing through the head light bracket and the flattened end of shaft tol pivota-lly secure the head light bracket to the shaft, a segni'e'ntalgear formed on the' front lower portion of the bearing, a second segmental gear meshing with the first formed 'on the lower portion of head light bracket. y

5. In a device of the-class described, 'a fixed member formed with' "a gear section, a member mounted toj-osfcillate upon the lsaid 'Xed member, av weight rigidly suspended `fromL the oscillatory member, Vand a headlight support 'pivoted upon the saidl oscila; tory' member' formed Vwith a gfear'secti'on n'reshing with the gear secti'on of the first mentioned fixed menubar.v v I In testimony that I 'cla-im' the foregoing as my 4own, I have hereto axed' my signature in *the prese-nce' y'of two witnesses.V I y Y VVitnessest' 

